Fuel Station Manager Remanded for Le80 Million Theft

Francis Kamara, manager of the Makoloh gas station in the Koya chiefdom, Port Loko district, was yesterday remanded at the male correctional centre on Pademba Road for an alleged fraudulent conversion of the sum of Le80m that was meant for buying petroleum product.

The accused was arraigned at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1 presided over by Magistrate Komba Kamanda on one count of fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20(1)(iv)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the prosecution, the accused on 10 October, 2014 fraudulently converted to his own use the said amount which was entrusted to him by the complainant Mohamed Kuyateh.

While testifying in court, proprietor of the gas station, who is also the complainant, said he gave the sum of Le80m to the accused person for the purpose of buying fuel.

“Since I handed over the money to the accused, I could not set my eyes on him until he was apprehended by the police,” he testified.

Meanwhile, the second prosecution witness, John Fatorma, told the court he is the fuel dealer at the Makoloh gas station and corroborated the testimony of the complainant that he indeed handed over the sum of Le80m to the accused to buy fuel.

The accused is represented by defense counsel C.F. Edwards, who applied for bail on behalf of his client but was denied by Magistrate Kamanda.